carry argon tanks, upright vs 'prone'

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need to get my argon tanks filled. I realize there are probably safety and legal reasons for carrying tanks upright (and possibly other reasons as well), but I'd *like* to leave those aside for the moment, and simply ask THIS:is it 'bad for" the argon (or argon gas mixtures) IN the tanks to carry the tanks in my pickup truck bed 'flat' instead of upright?. alternately, what''s "really inside" an argon tank, when it gets filled (other than the gas mix you specify)? anything? in other words, I think I read once acetylene is "suspended in" acetone, inside acetylene tanks (I *think* I read that somewhere, not sure). I'm just trying to 'avoid' if possible any 'unexpected results' happening because I carried my argon/argon mix tanks flat...to or from the LWS/fillup placeyou guys can assume I have enough common sense to make *darn* sure they're well secured during transit, and prevented from moving in ANY directions. any, yeah, like the rest of you guys, I -will- ordinarily store and use the tanks upright "in the normal manner", with their regulators on top thanks guys
Reply:Doesn't matter Dave as Argon is inert. The only tank you really have to worry about is acetylene and it too may be transported on it's side so long as you leave it upright for around 2 hours or so prior to use to let the acetone settle back to the bottom to minimize acetone draw into your torch lines. Argon is completely fine and you don't need to let it "stand" at your destination before use. Hope this helps.
Reply:Argon or argon mix gas cylinders don't care if they are upright, sideways, or upside down.  It's just compressed gas.Liquids (compressed liquified CO2 or LPG) do matter which way you store and use them.  But you -could- transport them sidways or upside down with no problem to the contents or the cylinders.Acetylene is a different beast altogether.  Because of the instability of gaseous acetylene, it is stored by being dissolved in (liquid) acetone within a porous filler inside the cylinder.  In use, the acetylene has to come out of solution from the acetone and enter the (small) 'head space' at the top of the cylinder and then the gaseous acetylene then flows out through the regulator and the gas lines to the point of use.  If the cylinder is tipped or layed down or turned upside down, then the liquid acetone (with the dissolved acetylene in it) flows through the porous filler and then goes into the (small) headspace and then may go out into the regulator and the gas lines.  Bad juju when that happens.  Worse juju is if the acetylene gas is allowed to accumulate and pressurize, because then it can spontaneously decompose all by itself and go bOOm.  But you knew that part.Some locales may have (misguided and/or overreaching and/or draconian) laws or regulations that say or are interpreted by some 'authorities' regarding the transportation of gas cylinders.  You'd have to check for that in your locale.  IIRC, Pennsylvania is such a locale where certain law or regulation types get their panties in a wad and start drooling about writing fines/tickets if they see a gas cylinder laying down and being transported.But in general, there is no actual problem with transporting a gas cylinder if it's laying down.  Secured and cap on of course.  No transporting with the regulator in place though.(re: laws  Like a scuba diver is going to always have a way to secure a cylinder upright all the time.  And they don't have caps, do they.  And oxygen cylinders for emergency or altitude use are often (frequently?) tucked into vehicle (car, truck, boat, plane, etc) nooks-n-cranies and may be set-up to even be (gasp!) -used- in that orientation.)Yes, a compressed gas cylinder is not a toy and can be dangerous if abused.  Laying a compressed gas cylinder on its side is NOT abuse or damaging in any way, shape, or form to the cylinder or the gaseous contents.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:There are numerous threads about this, both about the acetylene tank being different, and about laying other tanks flat. Some are fairly recent; a few minutes searching should bring up more detailed information than you have time to read.To answer your immediate question, all tanks besides acetylene, propane/butane and straight CO2 should have just the gaseous element or mix of gases. CO2 and propane/butane have both the liquid and gaseous compound, while acetylene is dissolved in acetone which is held in a porous substance (which should have no voids present).The only thing inside an argon tank is Argon.   If you lay the tank down too long, though, the argon might forget what side is up and flow sideways from the torch while you're welding, right?
Reply:thanks welderBC, exactly what I wanted to know, simply answered :-)thanks moonrise, for the detailed answerand thanks oldiron, for the part -after- the 'initial browbeating'
Reply:The reason for the transportation laws, more has to do with safety. If you store a cylinder sideways it's much more likely to roll or damage the valve or have something else damage the valve. If you've ever seen a valve sheered off a full cylinder it's called a missile and they've killed plenty of people before, including a welder I knew (crushed him)So there's nothing harmful about carrying an inert cylinder any which way, But you're much more likely to damage the valve if you carry it on it's side.
Reply:Originally Posted by Oldiron2The only thing inside an argon tank is Argon.   If you lay the tank down too long, though, the argon might forget what side is up and flow sideways from the torch while you're welding, right?
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-manWhat if it is 75/25?
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-manWhat if it is 75/25?
Reply:If it’s safe or not to transport a gas cylinder on its side should not ever be the question. UP right at all times with the valve caped, make it a habit and you’ll never go wrong. Climb over a fence. Break your weapon first and be safe.
Reply:lol.. i got a bottle of argon rolling around in my truck right now.. it's killin my kids tool-box...... you know how it is on a thursday afternoon... lol.... (actually.. we got whistle-bit)if you're not livin on the edge, you're takin up too much room..
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-manWhat if it is 75/25?
Reply:Posted above:If it’s safe or not to transport a gas cylinder on its side should not ever be the question. UP right at all times with the valve caped, make it a habit and you’ll never go wrong. Climb over a fence. Break your weapon first and be safe.
Reply:They told me my argon has a dip tube in it, When it rolls around you can hear it bouncing off the tank. They said it could break off ...if bounced on the back of the trailer laying down soooo I put it down on the front so it don't bounce.....I dunno Probably bang around good by the time I'm swapin it out  LOL..it Does have a tube in it though.Lincoln 225 Tombstone,Miller Big 20,Hobart 180,150' Argon,A/D hobart hood 22 Ton Log splitter,79 F350 dump eats 4.75 TONS and still turns cutters,grinders,And a  Hypertherm POWERMAX 30